Soak Yourself in the Sun to Lower Blood Pressure

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A thrilling research reveals that soaking up some in sun not only for your daily vitamin D dose but also to lower blood pressure.

Soak Yourself in the Sun to Lower Blood Pressure

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Researcher at the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh in Britain found that sunlight alters levels of nitric oxide (NO) - the small messenger molecule in the skin and blood - reducing blood pressure.

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"Nitric oxide, known to be abundant in skin, is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. When exposed to sunlight, small amounts of NO are transferred from the skin to the circulation, lowering blood vessel tone," said Martin Feelisch, professor of experimental medicine and integrative biology at University of Southampton.

"As blood pressure drops, so does the risk of heart attack and stroke," he added in a press release issued by the university.

According to Richard Weller of University of Edinburgh, while limiting sunlight exposure is important to prevent skin cancer, minimising exposure may be disadvantageous by increasing the risk of prevalent conditions related to cardiovascular disease.

During the study, the skin of 24 healthy individuals was exposed to ultraviolet (UVA) light from tanning lamps for two sessions of 20 minutes each.

In one session, the volunteers were exposed to both the UVA rays and the heat of the lamps.

In another, the UV rays were blocked so that only the heat of the lamps affected the skin.

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